Addendum on Polearms:
The polearm is the weapon of the commoner. This category of weapon includes any long wooden hafted weapon with a metal blade/hook/tip at the far end. The spear was the most common until the Halberd in later times. Most polearms were simply taken up and fashioned from whatever farming equipment was available at the time. Hoes, shovels, pruning forks, things that could easily be hammered and sharpened into a weapon. The weapon itself is one of the most versatile in skilled hands. The blade can be used to keep opponents at range, and if they close distance the shaft can be used like a bo staff.
The primary function of a polearm is the line of pikes at the head of a column which is set to receive a charge. After that, it depends on the type of polearm. A simple spear is obviously a piercing weapon and may be short enough to throw. The more elaborate halberds were, in reality, glorified can openers. They had many edges, spikes, and hooks which can pierce, slice, pry, grapple, and disarm.
There is no one effective armor against a polearm. They may be used to exploit the vulnerabilities of all, but are most effective against fully armored knights and cavalry. Halberds were designed to easily hook onto plates to pull men off horses, or force knights to their knees so they can be easily finished off at close range.
The polearm is the weapon of the commoner. This category of weapon includes any long wooden hafted weapon with a metal blade/hook/tip at the far end. The spear was the most common until the Halberd in later times. Most polearms were simply taken up and fashioned from whatever farming equipment was available at the time. Hoes, shovels, pruning forks, things that could easily be hammered and sharpened into a weapon. The weapon itself is one of the most versatile in skilled hands. The blade can be used to keep opponents at range, and if they close distance the shaft can be used like a bo staff.
The primary function of a polearm is the line of pikes at the head of a column which is set to receive a charge. After that, it depends on the type of polearm. A simple spear is obviously a piercing weapon and may be short enough to throw. The more elaborate halberds were, in reality, glorified can openers. They had many edges, spikes, and hooks which can pierce, slice, pry, grapple, and disarm.
There is no one effective armor against a polearm. They may be used to exploit the vulnerabilities of all, but are most effective against fully armored knights and cavalry. Halberds were designed to easily hook onto plates to pull men off horses, or force knights to their knees so they can be easily finished off at close range.